Top tips for moving to the UK, according to us!

1. It's not all about London!

When telling people we live in the UK, usually the answer we get is "Oh and how's London?".

Nope, we decided not to live in London and don't regret it! Yes London is great and exciting but there are plenty of lovely cities in England where it can actually be easier for expats to feel comfortable.

Why? First of all, they are less frenetic and people tend to be friendlier. Friends living in the capital usually tell us that, although they are constantly surrounded by people, they feel lonely because no one has time to stop and chat. 

They are smaller, so it is quicker to meet up with friends and bump into people we know, moving around London can be a hustle! 

Last but not least: they are more affordable! Cities in Southern England can be quite expensive (while the North is relatively cheap!) but nothing beats London. If you're expecting a decent, affordable place close to work/university, definitely move somewhere else! 

Bath, Cambridge and Oxford are the cities we've experienced so far and we loved them all! Student life is great, there is a big international community and they are just very pretty to walk around in. Also they're not too far from London so it's still possible to visit the capital even for one day, but they're amazing places to go back to and find some peace. 

2. Share a flat

If you're moving to the UK on your own, it will probably be quite hard to make friends, at least at the beginning. Sharing a flat, especially with English people, is the best way to get a social life going. 

If you're lucky enough to have nice flatmates, they will be your first friends there and you will go out with them and meet other people or they will introduce you to their friends. Plus, you'll get to practise your English if it's not your first language which is a bonus! 

Here are the best websites for finding a room in a flatshare, otherwise simply contact the local agency:

www.rightmove.co.uk

www.zoopla.co.uk

P.s. If you're not a student anymore you probably don't want to share with students. Student house (usually) = overflowing bins and sink full of dishes ;)

3. Don't be too picky with the food

Another thing we get asked a lot, especially being Italian, is "So what do you eat there?". The UK is definitely not famous for their food. Not gonna lie, it was a bit of a shock at the beginning and it is also quite easy to lose control of the calories and gain weight in the first few months, especially if you live in a host family or eat out a lot. 

The picture above is what out parents sent during our first year here because we missed Italian food too much! 

But actually, even if you probably won't find your local delicacies (or they will be super expensive), food in the UK is not bad at all, especially if you get in the mindset that English food is not all fish & chips and Sheperd's pies. Being so multicultural, there are some great ethnic restaurants and we also found great pizzas (and if we say it, it's true ;) ). 

Also, supermarkets are generally more expensive than in Southern Europe but just learn where to go for quality and where to go for cheap food. 

Waitrose = quality + pricey

Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's = less choice but cheaper.

If you need any tips for restaurants in Bath, Oxford or Cambridge, just ask us, we know all the best ones!

4. Good manners

Yep, English people are polite. Sounds cliché but it is very true, it is simply in their genes and we find it very pleasant! 

So a few simple tips: ALWAYS queue for the bus, if you see people sitting at the bus stop they're not just sitting, they're queuing ;) and also thank the bus driver when you get to your stop. 

Never forget "please", "thank you" and "sorry" and keep the door open for people entering the building after you. Also, don't talk or laugh too loud in restaurants.

These things are valid in any country but we found they have even more meaning here!

Also, if a person you don't know (e.g. bus driver, shop assistant) calls you "love" or "sweetheart" don't feel weirded out, they can be overly nice :)

5. Get involved in university life

... And we mean, even if you don't go to university! Getting involved with the local uni is a great place to have fun and meet people. Go to uni fairs, contact people, look at their Facebook page and the Facebook pages of the different societies. Usually people from outside uni are welcome to participate to the events and you'll find people of any age (Bachelor, Masters and PhD students). For example, the University of Bath organises a wine tasting on campus every Tuesday and everyone can take part, loads of people come on their own and still have great fun!